K1.4mil transit home open for Central vendors

A new transit home for families travelling in from Central villages to sell their fresh market produce was opened yesterday inside the Koki market in Port Moresby. The project which cost around K1.4 million was funded by the Australian government in partnership with the Government, UN Women, National Capital District Governor and the MPs for Moresby South and Rigo. Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko thanked the partners for funding and designing the new transit home. Tkatchenko said they built the transit house because many times, women and children from Central who came in to sell their produce at the market slept in unsafe places. “Many sleep in the markets with their children where they sometimes get robbed,” he said. “This home is for women and children who travel in from Rigo and Abau to sell their produce.” Tkatchenko also thanked the former member of Rigo Ano Pala who had contributed K200,000 for the construction of the house. Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis thanked the partners for the opportunity to be part of something that would help many people. “The home will be able to accommodate up to 50 women and their families, allowing them a safe place to stay when they come to Port Moresby to sell their produce at the market,” Davis said. “With the installation of water tanks and solar power for hot water and lighting the building has been designed to be sustainable and low cost to run.” Davis said that supporting women to earn a living was so important for the future of the community and the economy as well. The management of the transit home is still being discussed, however, Tkatchenko said that the home would be managed by a non-governmental organisation.